Linehaul Questions.

Planning to change over to linehaul sometime next year. Already working on getting my endorsements. I'll more than likely be living in Phoenix or Albuqerque when this time comes.

Why should I consider not taking or taking a union job?

Are all of these companies line runs based on seniority or do they hire as needed? Don't know if it would be worth the risk if I get hired on somewhere and end up being starved out waiting for bids.

Lastly what's it like pulling doubles?

I'm sure 6 string will reply at some point. I started around the same time you did, maybe a month or so earlier. I got 1.5 years in now and was also looking into linehaul. The biggest hindrance for me was and still is location. I'm just a little too far out from these places to really try and work for one. Anyway, seniority is key at these places. They tend to hire seasonally but usually from within. Linehaul is where the money is. Flatbed has been good for the wallet but I'd like to go that direction eventually.

You're probably going to take the company that will hire you. Every region is different in linehaul but these jobs pay well and LTL carriers usually don't struggle as much as OTR carriers to find drivers. I've heard stories of trainees being offered linehaul positions right out of school in the Northeast. In the Northwest there's a regional LTL carrier (Penninsula Truck Lines) that wants five years of verified OTR experience before they'll consider you. Consider my remarks as applicable to the Northwest market, but other markets aren't that different.

The big advantage with the union carriers is the insurance. Usually, it's thrown in at no charge to you beyond paying union dues. Unions were exempted from Obamacare so you can still get a, "Cadillac plan". The big hitch is the wages. Yellow/YRC/New Penn/Holland/Reddaway starting pay is on the low end of the scale (51.56 cpm/$20.83/hr. to start) and then there's the 15% giveback - they deduct 15% of your earnings back! UPS wages are o.k., but they tend to starve out new drivers giving them 1 or 2 runs a week. Compare Yellow's starting wage with SAIA (64 cpm w/2 years exp.), Old Dominion (68 cpm), Estes (68 cpm).

As an entry-level linehaul driver you'll be working the extra board (sometimes called the system). A typical linehaul terminal will have 12-15 drivers on bid runs and those drivers will have 3 or 4 weeks of vacation time each so 36-60 weeks where they will need someone to fill in for them. Bid driver sick days and extra freight during the busy season will fill out your runs. Seniority comes into play when bidding on a regular run. After you've worked the extra board for a year or two you will probably have enough seniority to get a bid run. Seniority also comes into play for weekend work.

Traditionally, P&D drivers get promoted into linehaul but their wives usually veto this in favor of having them home at night. The big problem you're going to face is external competition. If a terminal has one opening and another driver with a clean record and 5 years of experience applies you won't get called back. If that other driver doesn't apply you will get the job.

Pulling doubles and triples isn't the hard part - wrestling with the dollies to hitch your set is the hard part. It can be extra difficult if you're doing it in an uneven, gravel lot. The driving part isn't that much different than pulling a single 53' dry van. Doubles and triples have fewer accidents than singles. Parking can be a challenge since 84' of trailers takes up a lot more room than a single and backing up isn't an option.

I just finished my first week solo on Linehaul with Old Dominion last week, they hired me as a extra board driver making .55 a mile. Ill be filling in as needed on drivers dedicated runs as well as running the shorter runs. I can't speak as too the benefits vs draw backs of a union company as OD is non union. At least with my terminal they have been looking for people to run extra on the weekends all 5 weeks I have worked for them.

So far I haven't noticed too much difference on the road compared to a 53' although with that said it was interesting on Saturday running empties in heavy rain. So far the biggest challenge and time killer for me has been getting everything lined up to hook up the set and moving the dolly around,

You're probably going to take the company that will hire you. Every region is different in linehaul but these jobs pay well and LTL carriers usually don't struggle as much as OTR carriers to find drivers. I've heard stories of trainees being offered linehaul positions right out of school in the Northeast. In the Northwest there's a regional LTL carrier (Penninsula Truck Lines) that wants five years of verified OTR experience before they'll consider you. Consider my remarks as applicable to the Northwest market, but other markets aren't that different.

The big advantage with the union carriers is the insurance. Usually, it's thrown in at no charge to you beyond paying union dues. Unions were exempted from Obamacare so you can still get a, "Cadillac plan". The big hitch is the wages. Yellow/YRC/New Penn/Holland/Reddaway starting pay is on the low end of the scale (51.56 cpm/$20.83/hr. to start) and then there's the 15% giveback - they deduct 15% of your earnings back! UPS wages are o.k., but they tend to starve out new drivers giving them 1 or 2 runs a week. Compare Yellow's starting wage with SAIA (64 cpm w/2 years exp.), Old Dominion (68 cpm), Estes (68 cpm).

As an entry-level linehaul driver you'll be working the extra board (sometimes called the system). A typical linehaul terminal will have 12-15 drivers on bid runs and those drivers will have 3 or 4 weeks of vacation time each so 36-60 weeks where they will need someone to fill in for them. Bid driver sick days and extra freight during the busy season will fill out your runs. Seniority comes into play when bidding on a regular run. After you've worked the extra board for a year or two you will probably have enough seniority to get a bid run. Seniority also comes into play for weekend work.

Traditionally, P&D drivers get promoted into linehaul but their wives usually veto this in favor of having them home at night. The big problem you're going to face is external competition. If a terminal has one opening and another driver with a clean record and 5 years of experience applies you won't get called back. If that other driver doesn't apply you will get the job.

Pulling doubles and triples isn't the hard part - wrestling with the dollies to hitch your set is the hard part. It can be extra difficult if you're doing it in an uneven, gravel lot. The driving part isn't that much different than pulling a single 53' dry van. Doubles and triples have fewer accidents than singles. Parking can be a challenge since 84' of trailers takes up a lot more room than a single and backing up isn't an option.

Thanks for the input. Pretty much covered what I was wondering about.

I just finished my first week solo on Linehaul with Old Dominion last week, they hired me as a extra board driver making .55 a mile. Ill be filling in as needed on drivers dedicated runs as well as running the shorter runs. I can't speak as too the benefits vs draw backs of a union company as OD is non union. At least with my terminal they have been looking for people to run extra on the weekends all 5 weeks I have worked for them.

So far I haven't noticed too much difference on the road compared to a 53' although with that said it was interesting on Saturday running empties in heavy rain. So far the biggest challenge and time killer for me has been getting everything lined up to hook up the set and moving the dolly around,

Awesome to hear. I am not scared of nights or weekends so that should really help me in the beginning from what it sounds like!